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Look your best: Hair and skin program for teens | Darcy Brixey

The first time I applied eye makeup was at a grade school slumber party. There were six of us, all jacked up on sugar and we spent an evening painting our faces and singing along to popular boy bands. I came across the photo recently and remembered how grown up we thought we were, lined up and posing, with more color on our faces than circus clowns.

During a recent BBQ in my neighborhood, my daughter and her friend stole away to play dress up. Later in the evening, when it was time to go home I noticed evidence that she had tried to wash off eye makeup before I could see it. There were wet, dark streaks across her lids and it looked like she had eschewed eyeliner in favor of a sharpie marker. I’m sure it’s in fashion somewhere.

I didn’t say much, since I still remember my mother’s comments about my own eye makeup during my adolescence. “A little heavy on the icing, aren’t we?” she’d ask, and I’d stomp off to the bathroom to chip away a few layers of blue or green eye shadow. Karma is creeping around the corner and I’m hoping to sidestep it before it catches me unaware.

There are some things you just can’t learn from your mother, which is a good time to listen to tips from a neutral party. The Bellevue library is hosting a hair and skin event for tweens and teens at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 29. Juel Bergholm, a professional hair and makeup artist will talk about hair tips and tricks and will have a live model to demonstrate make up application.

Juel has worked in salons and for professional photo shoots and movies. Her counterpart Renee Krause is a licensed aesthetician who specializes in teen acne and will discuss proper skin care techniques. Both presenters currently work at the Mollie Michelle salon in Bellevue.

There will be a number of library books on hand to check out on hair, skin and make up and Juel and Renee will be available to answer your questions. The next time my daughter paints up, I hope she’ll listen to a few tips I’ve learned from the program. And I promise to never, ever call it icing no matter how thick she trowels it on.

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